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Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s woes in the ongoing Test series against Australia have hit an all-time low, culminating in an ignominious record. After missing the first Test, the 37-year-old joined the team in the second match but has struggled to find his footing since. In the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Rohit managed just 3 runs in the first innings and 9 in the second, bringing his total for the series to a paltry 31 runs across six innings.
Rohit Sharma’s unfortunate record in test series against Australia
These performances have earned him the unfortunate distinction of having the lowest batting average for a touring captain in a Test series in Australia. Rohit has amassed just 31 runs across six innings in the series, averaging a mere 6.20. This marks the lowest-ever batting average for a touring captain in Australia (minimum five innings). The previous record was held by West Indies pacer Courtney Walsh, who averaged 7.75 during the 1996/97 tour. England’s Ivo Bligh ranks third on this list, with an average of 8.25 during his visit to Australia in the 1882/83 series. Rohit’s underwhelming returns add to his overall lean patch, with his batting form deteriorating since September. Across 15 innings in three series, including two at home, Rohit has managed only 164 runs at an average of 10.93, including a solitary half-century.
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India’s performance mirrors Rohit’s struggles
India’s campaign in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 has been marred by inconsistency, and Rohit’s underwhelming performances have amplified the team’s challenges. In the fourth Test, Australia piled on 474 in their first innings, with all their top-four batters registering fifties. Jasprit Bumrah’s four-wicket haul offered some respite, but India’s response with the bat highlighted their struggles. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s century (104), supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Washington Sundar (50), helped India post 369. However, the deficit of 105 runs proved costly.
In the third innings, Marnus Labuschagne’s half-century steered Australia to 234, leaving India a daunting target of 340. Day 5 began with the Indian team under immense pressure at 25-2. Rohit’s dismissal for 9 in the 26th over added to the team’s woes, with Mitchell Starc claiming his wicket. Chasing a full-length delivery outside the off stump, Rohit edged the ball to first slip, where Usman Khawaja took an exceptional low catch. India’s top order collapsed further, leaving the team in dire straits at 33/3 by lunch. In the remaining sessions, while Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal displayed some resistance, the team was eventually bowled out for a meagre 155, suffering a crushing defeat by 184 runs.
